Introduction: Diarrhea is one of the most common diseases of the Children underfive years, that
kills about 3.2 millions of them in the developing countries. this Disease is on of the most causes of
the said children in lran , too. Todecreasethe disease rate the dehydration prevention, healthand
nutritional advices seem necessary. for these reasons the educational needs of the mother on
prevention, care and treatment of diarrhea disease of the children underfive years was done in
Gonabad city.
Materials and methods: 347 of mothers of the children referring to health centers were selected
randomly .The date were collected by a questionairee and interview.
Findings: 54.9% of the children had diarrhea 48.7% of the mothers were infromed from
dehydration symptoms and 51.3% had no information. 35/7% had information from ORS
prescrbtion but 64/3% had no information and diden,t used it well at homes .89/3% accepted only
physicion drugs prescription and breast feeding as the best nutrition in diarrhea . 2/6% didnot
proposed any kind of drugs. 66.6% used solid and blind diet for their children over six months of
year. there results showed that 61/7% of the mothers wer informed by health centers and there
was a meaningful relationship between their mother education andjob.
Conclusion: Since 51/3% werenot informed from dehydration symptoms and 64/3% didnot know
how to use ORS at homes, then a better and more teaching of the family members and especially
less educated mothers is necessary in knowing acute diarrhea symptoms and child dehydration. how
to use ORS . prescribed drugs and foods during diarrhea and preventing ways and referring
system at times necessary by health centers.